Soups

There is nothing more tasty, filling and inexpensive than navy bean soup. And, this tikka masala navy bean soup has an international flair that will take your dried navy beans to the next culinary level! What is Tikka Masala Good Question! What is tikka masala? Well, it comes from the […]

Oh, the inspiration for this ‘indian inspired biryani vegetable soup’ comes from something that Ben and I are doing in a couple of weeks! We’re attending a fund raiser. It’s the annual Vail Valley Foundation ‘Black Diamond Ball’ and the theme this year is ‘Bollywood’! So, I’ve been searching the […]

See that teeny hint of ‘pinkish’ tinge in the soup? Well, that’s because this creamy chicken herb oven soup was garnished with delicious and healthy beet stems. And, the heat of the soup resulted in the stems bleeding out some of their hue. Now, this is a nutritious hue that’s […]

If you put the word ‘beans’ in my search box, you’ll find some great recipes. Go ahead, try it! Once you see some of my bean recipes, you’ll know why I’m an addicted bean lover! Ya know, growing up in Southern West Virginia, coal-mining country, beans were a staple on […]

There’s nothing that stimulates the senses more than walking into a house and wiffing the aroma of good food cooking. And, this chicken fajita slow cooker soup is perfect for achieving that experience. Honestly, there’s absolutely nothing to making this divine comfort food. Just pull out the slow cooker, you […]

Chicken soup. Truly loved by all! Now I’ve made a wonderful Italian dish, chicken piccata, into a chicken piccata soup! Another great chicken soup with an Italian dish twist is Chicken Marsala, and it’s THE most popular post I’ve ever shared on Facebook. Seen by over 160k and shared over 1,300 […]

Chili is certainly a classic soup, and this slow cooker aussie grassfed beef cowboy caviar layered chili tops the charts with great flavor. And, yeah, I know the name of this recipe is a mouthful. I give credit to my grandson, John, who was visiting us in Colorado with his […]

Small red beans are just down right amazingly flavorful. They’re pretty, plus when you season them well and let them cook over several hours you get this rich thick mahogany gravy that’s just lusciously delicious! And, this recipe for red beans and shredded lamb steak is one that will make […]

Sometimes, out of the blue with no expectations at all, you hit a homerun with a recipe creation. And, that’s what this hot italian sausage kale bean paesan soup is. A home run! And, I had no idea when I started fashioning this soup. This assessment is not just from […]

Aromas, scents and food are the most provocative memory stimulators for me. When I go out very early in the morning on a warm summer day, the scent of dew, grass, leaves, and nature immediately evoke memories of being at camp as a kid. In the Fall, when I smell […]

If you’ve ever made your own chicken stock with bone in chicken pieces, then you know the difference from the homemade and what you can get in a can or box. I mean there’s just no comparison. The bone stock chicken soup ‘broth’ is so thick that it almost ‘gels’. […]

This is a simple recipe. No doubt you’ll look at the ingredients and directions and think, hummm, that’s really easy. I’m totally in! Actually, French cooking should be easy. Julia taught us that concept. But, I think the key to this french country chicken stock noodle soup is the quality […]

Seasonal cooking is always the smartest and best strategy for the kitchen and feeding your family. Seasonal cooking means using those fruits and vegetables that are ‘in season’. Yes, they’re plentiful, which means they’re usually less expensive and tastier because they’re grown during the peak time of the year for […]

What are the world’s healthiest foods? Well, according to WHFoods one of them is buttery lima beans. And, when you add spinach, you make them even healthier! Besides being a natural cholesterol lowing food, lima beans give you lots of fiber and protein. They’re great for folks with diabetes, insulin […]

I have no idea why I don’t cook lentils more often. I mean I love legumes. And, lentils have all the other wonderful attributes of their bean and pea cousins. Low in fat, no cholesterol, high in folate, potassium, iron and magnesium. They also have the good fats and what […]

Hearty and robust, this farmers market chicken soup can be made year round. In the summer when you have access to all the fresh vegetables, you can load it up with whatever you like, if you like. For me, I love the combination of the lima beans, potatoes, chicken and […]

A good rich soup is a meal for us. Making soups with depths of flavor in a short amount of time can be challenging. But, this taco veggie soup defies all odds, and in no time at all you have a fabulous soup that, yes, gets better and better on […]

Peas are a fabulous vegetable. Not only are they healthy, but they’re super versatile for using in recipes like this parmesan pea soup. Served hot, warm, room temperature or cold, I’m really a pea lover! Now when I cook peas, I like to use the petite size rather than the […]

Short ribs. Usually you see recipes for this cut of beef for slow cooking or maybe grilling. Short ribs are a popular cut of beef. And, can be butchered in several ways.They can be boneless or bone in. In Korea the short ribs are butterflied and cut into thin slices. […]

Winter is just made for chili. Now, there are hundreds of kinds of chilis. I mean chili cookoffs are big time popular in the cooking contest circuit. I’m sure many of you’ve been to at least one chili bash where everyone touts their chili as the best. This beef chunk […]

This vietnamese bokchoy shrimp soup just makes you feel healthy. I mean take a gander at the ingredients. Nothing in there that’s not good for your digestive system! Now it’s not a big deal to make it. I’ve been adventuring into more Asian foods in the past 18+ months. Trust […]

Hamburgers. Love them. Love them when they’re cooked on an outdoor grill then put on a soft tender bun and topped with good ol’ classic yellow mustard, pickles, lettuce and onions. Nothing fancy for me. Not even cheese. I don’t know about you, but sometimes we have burgers leftover. So […]

I went to the grocery store for whipped cream cheese. That was the onnnnleeee thing I needed. I intentionally didn’t get a cart, not even one of the tiny ones. By the time I reached checkout, and the only reason I did go to the checkout, was because my arms […]

When I think of ‘comfort food’ what comes to mind are images of earthy food. Food that’s still recognizable in its real form. Processed food just doesn’t make the cut for me. I also have subtle, yet noticeable, scents and aromas that I can really conjure up in my mind, […]

Some words simply sound healthy. It’s the way the word rolls off the tip of your tongue…barrrrrleee. Now think of the word ‘candy’…does that sound healthy? (OK, smile & play along with me!). Believe me, you’ll be refilling your bowl with this beef barley mushroom soup, which doesn’t take long […]

Lawsy, I could eat my weight in this smoky clam chowder. First of all, I LOVE corn. Once I had a corn on the cob eating contest with my father-in-law~yes, in the summer and fresh steam silver queen corn was plentiful~and, I ate 11 ears! He won~I think he ate […]

Cannellini beans~an Italian white kidney bean. So creamy and tasty. I love them best when I cook from scratch. Oh, yes, you can buy them canned, but they’re scrumptuously easy to prepare and just perfect as a side or as the main dish. With the fresh herbs, the flavors just […]

This eastern european chicken cabbage soup is such a festive and colorful dish~~it’ll make it more fun to eat! In Eastern Europe the cuisine varies depending upon the country. But, one food that seems to be prevalent in most of them is cabbage. And, soups are a staple. Since the […]

There’s a popular eating movement called ‘farm to table’…love this concept, and I add to that my concept of ‘eating close to the earth,’ which means when you look at ingredients you’re using, ask yourself, ‘Does this look like it just came from the earth?’ If so, then you’re probably […]

A pale lager adds some unique dimension to this chili~~the spices, chorizo, cilantro, lime~~yes, all make you realize you are south of the border as you savor each bite. Now if you want to ‘err’ on the side of less spicy, then just omit the chili powder and smoked hot […]

Inspiration for new recipes~~where does it come from? For me, it’s various venues~~but, first and foremost, I’m thinking healthy. Putting ‘junk’~things like empty calories, highly processed ingredients~into my body or that of anyone who pulls up a seat in my kitchen or at my table, isn’t my idea of love. […]

One spoonful of these beans and you’ll think you’ve hit pay dirt! I mean I totally amaze myself sometimes with the depths of flavor that are created when I start experimenting with spices and ingredients. I really think what sends these black beans over the top is the Dole Garden […]

Most of what I cook is sparked by what I see in my refrigerator, pantry or what’s sitting on my kitchen counter. Yes, I’m very ‘organic’ and ‘random’…I suppose that’s part of my Boho spirit…I go with what moves my soul depending upon the day, the weather, the mood, the vibes that I’m getting from how my day’s going. It’s great to be like that because, you’re always on an adventure! Now you may ask, how do I have the ingredients?

Soups~~the quintessential comfort food~~what you kind of gravitate to when you’re in the mood to warm your tummy with not only good eats but memories. Soups in my world are complete meals~~all I need to do is add a salad, and that salad can be anything from chopped tomatoes with […]

Whether you cook this on the stovetop, in a slow cooker/crockpot or in the oven~~you’re in for a comfort food experience that will make you want to curl up in your snuggle jammies on the sofa, turn on your fave TV show or movie, pour a glass of wine or […]

Making your own tomato soup is simple, plus if you make a lot of it, and freeze, then you have a great base for so many other dishes~~from pastas to soups to stews~~the possibilities are endless! If you’ve never ‘roasted’ peppers, either on an open gas stove blaze, on your […]

Most of ya’ll know that one of my favorite foods is beans~~most any kind of bean out there~~well, there is one bean that I just don’t care for and that’s black eyed peas…go figure, it’s so Southern, and being a Southern belle, I should think these things are the cat’s […]

One of my most favorite Italian dishes is chicken marsala~~I mean when I go to a really authentic Italian restaurant, that’s what I oftentimes order, and even when I go to a great chain like Carabbas, yep, it’s chicken marsala for me!

Since I’d seen a new Campbell’s product at the store, their packaged marsala sauce, I thought I’d give it a whirl in a new twist~~making a chicken marsala soup~~I mean I could put all the essential things in it and even add more mushrooms since the sauce had only a few, like I could count them on my one hand. Overall, this sauce has nice flavors and made the making of this soup pretty painless and easy~~sometimes life just calls for that, right? Here’s to ~peace and making life easier~ xoxo ally

I haven’t met a bean I don’t like! But, there are some that I like, no love, more than others, and one happens to be this cranberry bean, which in Italian is known as the borlotti~~but, rather than using that fancy word, I love the cranberry. Now that name comes […]

The power of seeing something enticing and delicious. Such is the case with creating this recipe, which is super easy. My girlfriend, Helena, whose website is Saucy Girls Kitchen shared her caramelized onions~~well, my mouth started watering! I mean I love onions and looking at those tender strands a light mahogany […]

When we’re in Colorado in the winter, there’s nothing better than chili! The grandkids come off the slopes after a big day of skiing and snowboarding and are ravenously hungry. It’s always good to have something hot on the stove and sweets and fruit on the kitchen counter. I love […]

I like my soup chunky. I like my soup fresh. I like my soup creamy. I like my soup with al dente veggies. I love soup with chicken! This soup is right up my alley (tsk tsk)! There’s something about adding the wine to the soup and infusing hints of […]

When the weather out side is frightful, then homemade soup is so delightful! Let it rain! Let it snow! Let it go! Soups’s on! And, that exactly what’s happening as I make this boholicious ‘Leek Potato & Roasted Red Pepper Soup’! The red peppers give the soup just a tad […]

When my girlfriend, Laura, who’s made several trips to Morocco, brought me some ‘Ras el hanut’ she’d picked up there on one of her trips, I was like giddy happy!! I make my own ras el hanut, and, of course, you can buy it~~but there’s nothing better than having the […]

This Caprese Soup is so stinkin’ good! Thick, rich, creamy and fresh~~yes, fresh heirloom tomatoes, and if you can’t find them, or if they’re way to pricey, then substitute Roma tomatoes. Now my heirlooms were left over from the World Food Championships~~I used them in my third round of competition […]

I’ve never really spent a lot of time cooking with parsnips~~it’s pretty cool that parsnips date back to the Roman times and that they were once used as a sweetner in Europe before cane sugar got there! Parsnips are high in vitamins and potassium, and since I’ve been having some […]

Some dishes don’t need much explanation! This is one of those recipes~~with some leftover grilled chicken breasts, I decided to cut them into chunks, open a few cans of cannellini beans, then start tossing in good fresh tomatoes, diced poblanos and lotsa smoked paprika~~what I got was a deliciously rich […]

One of the best things about being a foodie and blogger is the number of talented and generous other foodies you meet via social media. Many of my friends, whom I’ve never met in person but feel like I know as well as real ‘brick and mortar’ friends, have written […]

I made some really wickedly good Anasazi beans, and had about 4 cups left over~~this became the reason for this chili! There was the ham hock, too, that the beans had been cooked in, so I shredded the meat off the bone and threw it in this chili. Not […]

I was introduced to Romesco by Chef Anthony Sasso of Casa Mono Bar Jamon in NYC. Now I’ve made ‘Artisan Lettuce Romesco’! Chef Anthony came to cook in my Colorado kitchen preparing a spectacular meal for Ben and me and ten of our most favorite guests! That entire soiree was an […]